I also believe that VMplayer can't build its modules on the 4.14 kernel without being patched. If you try and install it in the terminal, don't you see any errors? I leave it to you to do the necessary research to see if my first theory is correct.

Setting up bridge networking---- snip---Between VM host, guests and the world

In order to let communications between host, guests and outside world, you may set up a bridge and as described at QEMU page.

For example, you may modify network configuration file /etc/network/interfaces for setup ethernet interface eth0 to a bridge interface br0 similar as below. After the configuration, you can set using Bridge Interface br0 as the network connection in VM guests configuration. ---snip-- read it all ---

Between VM host and guestsTo let communications between VM host and VM guests, you may setup a macvlan bridge on top of a dummy interface similar as below. After the configuration, you can set using interface dummy0 (macvtap) in bridged mode as the network configuration in VM guests configuration.

By default, QEMU uses macvtap in VEPA mode to provide NAT internet access or bridged access with other guest. Unfortunately, this setup could not let the host to communicate with any guests.

Read further down, :

Between VM host, guests and the world

In order to let communications between host, guests and outside world, you may set up a bridge and as described at QEMU page.

For example, you may modify network configuration file /etc/network/interfaces for setup ethernet interface eth0 to a bridge interface br0 similar as below. After the configuration, you can set using Bridge Interface br0 as the network connection in VM guests configuration.

Pay attention, where it say: " set up a bridge ", that is a link tohttps://wiki.debian.org/BridgeNetworkConnectionsyou probably need to read that as well, I know , it is complicated, and a lot of reading, but I don't know of any simpler way to explain it all. There is also a link to the "QEMU" page, that is important reading. Another thing, the code shown on the wiki, is not intended to be copy pastedinto you configuration ,note it says:

And also it's important to disable firewall on WIN guest to be able to ping from host to guest.To copy pest between host guest it's needed to install spice-guest-tools-0.2.exe on guest /win xp/.At the end setup static IP and disable DHCP on guest.